The universe didn’t just happen. It began as an expression of love – God’s love. The source of all that exists goes by many names. Christians use the name “God.” God didn’t cause the universe to begin merely to show off God’s power. God-love “emptied himself” into the universe and “creates” from within by evolution. We see in the history of the universe an ever-growing complexity of being – from the tiniest particles of matter, to the galaxies, to the earth orbiting the sun, to life, to humanity upon earth, conscious of the scope and wonder of the universe, and humanity’s unique role. At the proper time God revealed himself in Jesus of Nazareth, who Christians understand was the incarnation or human manifestation of God. The Church grew from Jesus of Nazareth, after his short ministry, death by crucifixion, and resurrection into a new form of being human. The Church sees itself as followers or disciples of Jesus. It believes it is guided by the Spirit of Jesus, now called the Christ or Messiah. The Church understands it has a unique role – that of awakening God’s dream for humanity, the earth, and all that lives upon it. The Church itself needs to grow in its awareness of its important mission of witnessing to God’s dream.